43 Christmas Cookies to Start Your Holiday Baking Fun Early
The holidays may seem a little far off, but it’s never too early to get in the festive spirit, especially when it comes to cookies. We’ve put together our collection of Christmas cookie recipes that are perfect for getting ahead on your holiday baking plans.
Whether you’re looking for simple favorites or something to add a bit of sparkle to the season, these recipes are all about making your holiday prep easy and fun. Let’s get started on turning the kitchen into a cozy corner of holiday cheer—one batch at a time.
Vanillekipferl
Meet your new favorite German Cookies! Vanillekipferl (also known as Almond Crescent Cookies) will simply melt in your mouth.
Get the Recipe: Vanillekipferl
Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies With Raisins
Enjoy these easy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies fresh from the oven! Soft and chewy cookies are made healthier with rolled oats and sweet raisins.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies With Raisins
Spekulatius
Speklatius are buttery German shortbread cookies made with gently warming spices. Perfect for snacking during the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Spekulatius
Butterball Cookies
Butterball Cookies are a classic, vintage, easy-to-make holiday treat that belongs on every cookie platter.
Get the Recipe: Butterball Cookies
Pistachio Cookies
Pistachio Cookies are filled with pistachio pudding, dried cherries, and almonds. Crispy on the outside and deliciously chewy on the inside.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Cookies
Thumbprint Cookies
Bake these delightful Thumbprint Cookies with ease – customize with your favorite jam for a delicious treat loved by all!
Get the Recipe: Thumbprint Cookies
Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Indulge in these sweet and chewy Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies, a delicious treat that’s quick and easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Snickers Cookies with Nutella Drizzle
These Snickers Cookies are loaded with chunks of Snickers, chocolate chips, and roasted peanuts and the most delicious Nutella drizzle. Simple to bake and absolutely delicious!
Get the Recipe: Snickers Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Meringue Kiss Christmas Cookies
Chocolate-dipped peppermint meringue kiss Christmas cookies are so easy to make if you are in the mood for holiday meringue cookies.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Meringue Kiss Christmas Cookies
Christmas Chocolate Sugar Cookies And Buttercream Dip
Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without Christmas chocolate sugar cookies! You will enjoy these homemade cookies and buttercream dip with a glass of milk. Sugar cookie dippers also go down well at any Christmas party or school party.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Chocolate Sugar Cookies And Buttercream Dip
Crinkle Grinch Cookies
Crinkle Grinch cookies are a worthy addition to your festive baking list. If you’re looking for green Christmas cookies, these are definitely fun! Enjoy munching on Grinch cake mix cookies while watching Christmas movies.
Get the Recipe: Crinkle Grinch Cookies
Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies
Gingerbread man cookies are popular with kids and grownups alike. They’re soft, sweet and full of wonderful warm spice flavor.
Get the Recipe: Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies
Festive Chocolate Covered Oreo Christmas Cookies
Chocolate covered Oreo Christmas cookies are just delicious! I just know you’ll love these DIY covered Oreos made in a silicon mold.
Get the Recipe: Festive Chocolate Covered Oreo Christmas Cookies
Festive Gingerbread Pizzelle Recipe
This gingerbread pizzelle recipe makes authentic Italian Christmas pizzelles. These holiday cookies have a crisp texture and a ginger snaps flavor. Cinnamon, ginger and cloves add a spicy touch to the pizzelle cookies, while molasses gives them a rich sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Festive Gingerbread Pizzelle Recipe
Amaretti Cookies
All Italian cookies are wonderful, but gluten-free Amaretti cookies just have to be one of the best and perfect for Christmas baking.
Get the Recipe: Amaretti Cookies
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Gluten free Christmas pinwheel cookies are a holiday favorite. These Italian Christmas swirl cookies look like something from a bakery, but it easy to make this Christmas cookie roll. Add these red and green Christmas cookies to your gluten free holiday baking list!
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Stained Glass Christmas Cookies
These gluten-free stained glass Christmas cookies are so pretty! Also known as windowpane cookies, these easy-to-make cookies with a hole in the middle are a Christmas staple. You will love these colorful gluten-free sugar cookies.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Stained Glass Christmas Cookies
Grinch Crumbl Christmas Sugar Cookies
Grinch Crumbl Christmas sugar cookies are wonderfully sweet, with hints of almond and vanilla extract in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Grinch Crumbl Christmas Sugar Cookies
Christmas M&M Cookies
Christmas M&M Cookies are the easiest and most fun way to celebrate the holiday season. This simple recipe bakes the best batch of thick, soft, and chewy cookies that are bursting with chocolate chips and colorful, crunchy candy–because cookies made from scratch always taste better than anything store-bought!
Get the Recipe: Christmas M&M Cookies
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are the best, easiest, quickest way to bake a batch of soft and chewy sugar cookies covered with fun and festive holiday decor. This simple recipe combines a bag of cookie mix with 3 ingredients to make a dough that is colored, rolled, and baked–no chilling, no cutting–just make ‘em, bake ‘em, and take ‘em!
Get the Recipe: Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies
Holiday cookies aren’t just for Santa. Try these quick and easy Chocolate Chip Christmas cookies, and you’ll treasure them forever.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies
Christmas Wreath Cookies
This recipe for Christmas Wreath Cookies is an easy bake that kids and adults will love making! A truly festive treat for everyone.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Wreath Cookies
Easy Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies
Easy Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies are one of our favorite Christmas and holiday cookies. The delicious cookie, creamy filling and decorating are so much fun!
Get the Recipe: Easy Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies
Holiday Surprise Basket Cookies
Holiday Surprise Basket Cookies are delicious and so versatile. They can be filled with anything and decorated in so many ways!
Get the Recipe: Holiday Surprise Basket Cookies
Classic Christmas Spritz Cookies
Making a batch of these buttery and tender Christmas Spritz Cookies is one of my favorite old-fashioned holiday traditions.
Get the Recipe: Classic Christmas Spritz Cookies
Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
Christmas Cake Mix Cookies are one of the easiest Christmas cookie exchange recipes ever. Cake mix saves you time making this holiday treat.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
Chocolate-Covered Oreo Reindeer Cookies
These cute Chocolate Covered Oreo Reindeer cookies are perfect for adding some magic to your festive gatherings or as a sweet gift.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Covered Oreo Reindeer Cookies
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are easy to make for the holidays. Just add cream cheese to your favorite cookie mix, then bake and decorate!
Get the Recipe: Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
Macaroon Kiss Cookies
Macaroon Kiss Cookies combine flaky sweetened coconut flakes and cream cheese for a chewy cookie everyone will enjoy!
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Raspberry Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These classic chocolate crinkle cookies come wrapped with a modern surprise inside – raspberry preserves. Chewy and delicious!
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Mint Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Mint chocolate shortbread cookies are buttery and tender mint chocolate cookies. Dipped in melted chocolate and decorated with sprinkles.
Get the Recipe: Mint Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
White Chocolate Dipped Eggnog Cookies
These White Chocolate Dipped Eggnog Cookies bake up soft, full of eggnog flavor, and have hints of creamy white chocolate nestled on top!
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Dipped Eggnog Cookies
White Chocolate Holiday Oreo Cookies
These White Chocolate Holiday Oreo Cookies are such a fun and festive cookie that even the kids can help with! These cookies are definitely Santa-approved, and are a fantastic treat to share with friends and family!
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Holiday Oreo Cookies
Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies With Royal Icing
Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies are not only cute, their spiced dough and sweet royal icing decorations make them a great gift.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies With Royal Icing
Mint Christmas Cookies
Festive mint Christmas cookies are a tasty holiday treat. Make this chocolate mint cookie recipe for your family or Santa in just 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Mint Christmas Cookies
Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies
Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies are copycat Mallomars with soft marshmallow and crunchy graham cracker under a crisp chocolate coating.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies
Perfect Cut-out Sugar Cookies
These cookies have earned their title as Perfect Vanilla Cut-out Cookies. They are easy, retain their shape, and taste SO good.
Get the Recipe: Perfect Cut-out Sugar Cookies
Orange Shortbread Cookies With Cranberry Glaze
These Orange Shortbread Cookies with Cranberry Glaze are the most flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread you’ve ever tasted!
Get the Recipe: Orange Shortbread Cookies With Cranberry Glaze
Thumbprint Cookies With Icing And Nuts / Sprinkles
Old fashioned thumbprint cookies with icing and sprinkles are the ultimate holiday treat! Or make thumbprint cookies with buttercream icing!
Get the Recipe: Thumbprint Cookies With Icing And Nuts / Sprinkles
Santa’s Kitchen Sink Cookies
Santa’s kitchen sink cookies are soft, chewy, and fully loaded with chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, pretzels, and much more!
Get the Recipe: Santa’s Kitchen Sink Cookies
Santa Claus Cut Out Cookie
With a crispy outside and soft on inside, these is the best cut out cookie recipe you will ever try! Perfect plain or decorated.
Get the Recipe: Santa Claus Cut Out Cookie
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
This Christmas pinwheel cookies recipe may be my new favorite because they’re show-stopping and secretly quite easy to make.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Peppermint Snowball Cookies
These Peppermint Snowball Cookies take everything you love about the classic butter ball cookie, but it swaps out the nuts for peppermint, making them an even more festive and adorable Christmas cookie that will be welcome on any cookie tray!
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Snowball Cookies